Ruth and Naomi Return to Bethlehem

In the days when the judges ruled, a famine came on the land. Elimelech left Bethlehem in Judah and went to live in Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. In Moab, Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her sons.

Naomi’s sons married women from Moab named Orpah and Ruth. They lived there about ten years. Then both sons died too, and Naomi was left without her husband or her two sons. She heard that the Lord had given food to his people in Judah, so she set out to return from Moab.

Orpah and Ruth went with Naomi at first. On the way, Naomi told them to return to their mothers’ houses. She asked the Lord to show them kindness, as they had shown kindness to the dead and to her, and to grant them rest in the homes of husbands. They wept together, and both said they would go with her.

Naomi urged them again to go back. She said she had no sons to give them and was too old to begin again. She said the Lord’s hand had gone out against her. They wept again. Orpah kissed Naomi and returned, but Ruth stayed. Ruth said she would go where Naomi went, live where Naomi lived, and make Naomi’s people and God her own.

So Naomi and Ruth travelled on together to Bethlehem. When they arrived, the town was stirred, and people asked, “Is this Naomi?” Naomi said not to call her Naomi, but Mara, because the Almighty had dealt bitterly with her. She said she had gone away full and come back empty. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.